Building element

ABSTRACT

Building element including of two parallel welded wire grid mats ( 1, 2 ), of straight web wires ( 7 ) which hold the wire grid mats at a predetermined distance apart and are joined at each end to the two wire grid mats, and of an insulating body ( 8 ) which is arranged between the wire grid mats and through which the web wires pass, wherein at least one of the wire grid mats is in the form of a grid reinforcement mat which possesses a minimum strength of the weld nodes which complies with the static requirements applicable to the building element, corresponding mechanical strength of the grid mat wires ( 3, 4 ) and also corresponding diameters and mutual spacings of the grid mat wires, and wherein the web wires are arranged in predetermined directions relative to the wire grid mats, and the insulating body is held at a predetermined distance from each of the wire grid mats.

The invention relates to a building element consisting of two parallelwelded wire grid mats with square or rectangular meshes, of web wireswhich hold the wire grid mats at a predetermined distance apart, extendobliquely to the wire grid mats, and are joined at each end to the twowire grid mats, and of a one-piece insulating body which is arrangedbetween and at predetermined distances from the wire grid mats andthrough which the wire grids pass, wherein the web wires are arranged inparallel rows between the wires of the wire grid mats.

From U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,763, Schmidt et al., to which AT-PS 372 886corresponds, a method and an apparatus for producing a building elementof this kind are known. For this purpose two lengths of wire grid arefirst brought into a parallel position at a distance apart correspondingto the desired thickness of the grid body which is to be produced. Aninsulating body is inserted into the gap between the lengths of wiregrid, at a distance from each of the lengths of wire grid. Obviously, topermit such insertion, the insulating body must be made available, thatis, it is premanufactured or prefabricated. Web wires are passed throughone of the two lengths of wire grid into the gap between the latter andthe insulating body, in such a manner that each web wire comes to lieclose to a grid wire of each of the two lengths of wire grid, whereuponthe web wires are welded to the grid wires of the lengths of wire grid.Finally, the building elements of appropriate length are separated offfrom the grid body produced in this manner.

A similar building element is known from British Patent GB 2 234 276,which relates to a lightweight building panel that comprises twoparallel wire grid mats, a plurality of straight web wires joining thetwo wire grid mats, layers of mortar that enclose the two wire gridmats, and a core located between the mortar layers. The core is eitherinserted into the finished grid body between the layers of mortarapplied in the region of the wire grid mats or is thrust from the sideinto the grid body or, before the grid body is manufactured is insertedin the production system for the grid body between the two wire gridmats, with the aid of spacers.

From U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,991 a building element is known which consistsof a three-dimensional grid body in which a one-piece insulating body isformed in situ by foaming. The grid body comprises two wire grid matswhich are arranged at a distance from one another and which are joinedby means of zigzag web wires. On the building site the building elementis provided with a coating of concrete of mortar on each of its twocover surfaces. It is here a disadvantage that because of thecomplicated production process a modification of the shape anddimensions of the building element, particularly for the purpose ofadaptation to different static requirements, is possible only withdifficulty, and that only materials which can be foamed in situ can beused as material for the insulating body. It is also a disadvantage thatthe web wires can be connected at their wave crests to the grid wiresonly at one point in each case.

From U.S. Pat. No. 4 104 842 a building element is known whosethree-dimensional grid body likewise comprises two wire grid matsarranged at a distance from one another, together with web wires of azigzag configuration which join together the wire grid mats. On theinner side of at least one wire grid mat, spaced apart from the latter,a cover layer of building paper is applied to serve as limiting layerfor the concrete shell subsequently to be applied. If two cover layersare used, a cavity which can subsequently be filled with material isformed in the interior of the building element. Here again adisadvantage is the complicated production process, which makes itdifficult to modify the shape and dimensions of the building element,and also the fact that the materials for the insulating body arerestricted to substances which must be pourable or flowable in order tobe able to fill the cavity which is formed in the building element andthrough which the zigzag web wires pass. It is in addition adisadvantage that the web wires are connected at their wave crests tothe grid wires only at one point in each case.

The problem underlying the invention is that of providing a buildingelement which is optimally suitable for use in the industry of the typeindicated in the preamble above, and which can be produced in a simplemanner and can quickly be adapted to various static requirements. Thebuilding element should at the same time permit the selection ofdifferent materials for the insulating body and facilitate theapplication of the concrete layer at the site where the building elementis to be used. The building element according to the invention isdistinguished in that both wire grid mats are formed with a mesh sidelength in the range from 50 to 100 mm, as known per se, as buildingelement reinforcement mats for shells to be applied to them andcomprising, on at least one side of the building element, load-bearingmaterial; that the grid mat wires have a diameter in the range from 2 to6 mm, while conversely the web wires, preferably provided with ananti-corrosion layer, have a larger diameter, by comparison with thegrid mat wires, in the range from 3 to 7 mm and form shear reinforcementelements; that the distances of the web wires from one another in thedirection of the grid mat longitudinal wires and the grid mat crosswires are a multiple of the spacing of the grid mat meshes, wherepreferably from 50 to 200 web wires per square meter are provided; thatthe insulating body is embodied as a dimensionally stable body and, asknown per se, is held between the wire grid mats solely by the web wiresthat pass through them and that extend, inclined alternately in oppositedirections, in trelliswork fashion in each row of web wires; and that inat least one cover surface 18 of the insulating body, a plurality ofdepressions are formed, or the cover surface is provided with a plasterbase grid.

The combination of characteristics according to the invention offers thesubstantial advantage over the prior art that the building elementaccording to the invention is optimally dimensioned and suitable forpractical use, since both grid mats of the building element are formedas reinforcement mats for load-bearing shells, because the web wiresthat have larger diameters than the grid mat wires form shearreinforcement elements, and because the insulating body, embodied as adimensionally stable body, is not only secured in its predeterminedposition against unintended motion under the rough conditions ofbuilding construction, but is also prepared for good bonding to theouter shells to be applied to the building element. The building elementaccording to the invention can easily be adapted to different staticrequirements.

In comparison with the known building elements having zigzag wires andonly one weld point in the region of the wave crest, the buildingelement according to the invention has the advantage that the web wiresare in the form of individual wires and therefore two weld points existin the region of the connection to the grid mat wires, so that staticsafety is practically doubled.

It should also be noted that U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,908 discloses a modularbuilding element that has a grid body, a multiple-piece insulating bodyinside the grid body, and a layer of material for fixing the insulatingbody parts inside the grid body. The grid body is composed of striplikesubstructures, which are each formed of an upper and lower longitudinalwire as well as reinforcement wires extending between them eitherobliquely or at right angles to the longitudinal wires; the longitudinalwires of the individual substructures are joined together with the aidof cross wires located at right angles to the longitudinal wires. Theindividual parts of the insulating body are inserted into the gapsformed by the substructures. The insulating cores can comprise solidinsulating materials or hollow paper tubes. The layer of material forfixing the insulating cores comprises insulating material, such asinsulating foam, polystyrene, latex, and the like. In this buildingelement, however, none of the cover surfaces of the three-dimensionalgrid body is formed as a wire grid reinforcement mat; the insulatingbody does not have a cohesive one-piece structure; and the web wires donot pass through the individual insulating cores but rather extend inthe gaps between adjacent insulating cores. This building element isthus already distinguished generically from the invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,053 also discloses a building element. Thisreference addresses a concrete wall laminate having an insulating corecomprising a plurality of panels, at each of the abutting faces of whichladders are disposed that support the insulating cores. The designconcept of the building element is thus again already generallydifferent from the invention.

Within the scope of the invention, the dimensionally stable, one-pieceinsulating body can contain a plurality of cavities.

According to the invention, however, two separating layers, which arearranged covering the entire grid mat surface at a predetermineddistance from the wire grid mats, are fastened by the web wires and/orthe spacers an enclose a gap of predetermined width, may also beprovided, while in order to form a central insulating layer the gap maypreferably be filled with heapable, pourable or flowable materials whichin turn preferably are acoustic and thermal insulators.

For the practical use of the building element as a wall or ceilingelement it is particularly advantageous for at least one wire grid matto project laterally beyond the insulating body or the centralinsulating layer at at least one side surface of the insulating body orof the central insulating layer, as known per se. In this case there maybe applied to the outer wire grid mat which is intended to form theouter side of the building element . . . wires and/or the spacers andenclose a gap of predetermined width, may also be provided, while inorder to form a central insulating layer the gap may preferably befilled with heapable, pourable or flowable materials which preferablyare acoustic and thermal insulators.

For the practical use of the building element as a wall or ceilingelement it is particularly advantageous for at least one wire grid matto project laterally beyond the insulating body or the centralinsulating layer at at least one side surface of the insulating body orof the central insulating layer. In this case there may be applied tothe outer wire grid mat which is intended to form the outer side of thebuilding element an outer shell of concrete, which adjoins theinsulating body or the separating layer adjoining the outer wire gridmat and surrounds the outer wire grid mat and which, together with thelatter, forms the bearing component of the building element.

According to another feature of the invention there is applied to theinner wire grid mat which is intended to form the inner side of thebuilding element an inner shell, which adjoins the insulating body orthe separating layer adjoining the inner wire grid mat and surrounds theinner wire grid mat and which, together with the latter, forms thebearing component of the building element.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be explained morefully with the aid of some exemplary embodiments and with reference tothe drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a building element according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the building element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the building element shown in FIG. 1, viewed inthe direction of the cross wires;

FIG. 4 to 8 are side views of building elements according to theinvention with various exemplary embodiments for the arrangement of theweb wires within building element;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a building element with an asymmetricallyarranged insulating body;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a building element with additional edge webwires extending at right angles to the wire arid mats;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a building element with wire grid matsprojecting laterally beyond the insulating body at the edge of thebuilding element;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a building element with square wires of thewire grid mats and square web wires;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a building element with an insulating bodyprovided with cavities;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view in perspective of a building element with anouter shell and an inner shell of concrete;

FIG. 15 shows part of a section through a building element according toFIG. 14;

FIG. 16a is a section through a building element with a reinforcement intwo layers, an additional reinforcement mat being provided in the outershell and the inner shell consisting of concrete;

FIG. 16b is a section through a building element with a reinforcement intwo layers, an additional reinforcement mat being provided in the innershell and the outer shell consisting of concrete;

FIG. 17 is a section through a building element with an outer shell ofconcrete and with a lining board on the inner side of the buildingelement;

FIG. 18 is a side view of a building element with an insulating bodywhose cover surfaces are provided with depressions;

FIG. 19 is a side view of a building element with an insulating bodywhose cover surfaces are provided with cross grooves;

FIG. 20 is a side view of a building element with a plaster base gridand with a separating layer on a cover surface the insulating body, and

FIG. 21 is a side view of a building element with two separating layersand two plaster base grids in each case and with a layer of insulatingmaterial lying therebetween.

The building element shown in FIG. 1 consists of two flat wire grid mats1 and 2, which are arranged parallel to one another and at apredetermined distance from one another. Each wire grid mat 1 and 2consists of a plurality of longitudinal wires 3 and 4 respectively andof a plurality of cross wires 5 and 6 respectively, which cross oneanother and are welded together at the crossing points. The distancebetween the respective longitudinal wires 3 and 4 and the respectivecross wires 5 and 6 is selected in accordance with the staticregulations applicable to the building element. The distances arepreferably selected to be the same, for example in the range from 50 to100 mm, so that the longitudinal and cross wires lying next to oneanother in each case form square meshes. Within the scope of theinvention the meshes of the wire grid mats 1, 2 may also be rectangularand,for example, have short side lengths of 50 mm and long side lengthsin the range from 75 to 100 mm.

The diameters of the longitudinal and cross wires are likewise selectedin accordance with the static requirements and are preferably in therange of 2 to 6 mm. Within the scope of the invention the surface of thegrid mat wires may be smooth or ribbed.

The two wire grid mats 1, 2 are joined together by a plurality of webwires to form a dimensionally stable spatial grid body. At their endsthe web wires 7 are each welded to the wires of the two wire grid mats1, 2, while within the scope of the invention the web wires 7 may eitherbe welded to the respective longitudinal wires 3, 4, as shown in thedrawing, or be welded to the cross wires 5, 6. The web wires 7 arearranged to slope alternately in opposite directions, that is to say inlattice fashion, so that the grid body is stiffened against shearstresses.

The distances between the web wires 7 and the distribution of the latterin the building element depend on static requirements applicable to thebuilding element and for example amount to 200 mm along the longitudinalwires and to 100 mm along the cross wires. The distances of the webwires 7, 7′ from one another in the direction of the longitudinal wires3, 4 of the grid mat and of the cross wires 5, 6 of the grid matexpediently amount to a multiple of the mesh pitch. The diameter of theweb wires is preferably in the range of 3 to 7 mm, while in the case ofbuilding elements which have thin longitudinal and cross wires thediameter of the web wires is preferably selected to be larger than thediameter of the longitudinal and cross wires.

Since the spatial grid body formed from the two wire grid mats 1, 2 andthe web wires 7 must not only be dimensionally stable but, in the caseof its preferred use as a wall and/or ceiling element, must serve as aspatial reinforcement element, that is to say has to take shearing andcompressive forces, the longitudinal and cross wires are welded to oneanother, as is customary for reinforcement mats, and the web wires 7 arealso welded to the grid mat wires 3, 4, 5, 6, while maintaining aminimum strength of the weld nodes. In order to be able to serve as aspatial reinforcement element, the grid mat wires 3, 4, 5, 6 and the webwires 7 must be made of suitable materials and have appropriatemechanical strength values to be able to be used as reinforcement wiresfor the wire grid mats 1, 2 which are to serve as reinforcement mats,and, respectively, to be used as reinforcement wires connecting the twowire grid mats 1, 2.

Within the scope of the invention it is also possible to connect the webwires 7, 7′ at both their ends by means of plastics cord knots orlashing, for example. As an alternative the web wires 7, 7′ may bejoined at one end in this manner and at their other end by means ofwelding to the grid mat wires 3, 4, 5, 6.

In the gap between the wire grid mats 1, 2 an insulating body 8 isarranged at a predetermined distance from the wire grid mats andcentrally relative to the latter, and serves for thermal insulation andsound deadening. The premanufactured or prefabricated insulating body 8consists for example of foam plastics, such as polystyrene orpolyurethane foam, foam materials based on rubber and caoutchouc,lightweight concrete, such as autoclave or aerated concrete, porousplastics, porous substances based on rubber and caoutchouc, pressedslag, pressed sludge, gypsum plasterboard, cement-bound compressedboards consisting of wood chips, jute, hemp and sisal fibres, ricehusks, straw waste, sugarcane waste, or mineral and glass wool,corrugated cardboard, compressed waste paper, bound stone chips, meltedreusable plastics waste, tied reed and bamboo canes.

The insulating body 8 may be provided with predrilled holes to receivethe web wires 7. The insulating body 8 may also be provided on one orboth sides with a layer of plastics material or aluminium serving asvapour barrier. The position of the insulating body 8 in the buildingelement is determined by the obliquely extending web wires 7 which passthrough the insulating body 8.

The thickness of the insulating body 8 is freely selectable and lies forexample in the range from 20 to 200 mm. The distances from theinsulating body 8 to the wire grid mats 1, 2 are likewise freelyselectable and lie for example in the range from 10 to 30 mm. Thebuilding element can be made in any desired length and width, whilebecause of the method of production a minimum length of 100 cm andstandard widths of 60 cm, 100 cm, 110 cm and 120 cm have provedadvantageous.

As can be seen from the plan view of the building element shown in FIG.2, at the edge of the building element the longitudinal wires 3 and theedge longitudinal wires 3′ end in each case flush with the edge crosswires 5′, and the cross wires 5 and the edge cross wires 5′ end in eachcase flush with the edge longitudinal wires 3′. The same appliesanalogously to the grid mat wires 4, 4′, 6, 6′ of the other wire gridmat 2.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the building element shown in FIG. 1, viewedin the direction of the set of cross wires. The web wires 7, whichextend obliquely alternately in opposite directions to one another, hereform a row and are in each case welded to the corresponding longitudinalwires 3 and 4, arranged one above the other, of the wire grid mats 1 and2 respectively.

FIGS. 4 and 5 each show an exemplary embodiment with different anglesbetween the web wires 7 and the corresponding longitudinal wires 3, 4 ofthe wire grid mats 1, 2, while in accordance with FIG. 5 differentangles are also possible within a row of web wires within a buildingelement.

FIG. 6 shows a building element in which the web wires 7 in one rowextend codirectionally obliquely between the longitudinal wires 3 and 4of the wire grid mats 1, 2, while in the next row the web wires 7′ shownin dashed lines likewise extend codirectionally obliquely, but in theopposite directional sense, between the corresponding longitudinalwires, that is to say the building element has a plurality of rows ofcodirectionally oblique web wires with the directional sense changingfrom row to row. Within the scope of the invention the rows of web wiresdirected codirectionally obliquely may also extend between the crosswires 5, 6 of the wire grid mats 1, 2.

FIG. 7 shows a building element having web wires 7 extending obliquelyin opposite directions for each row, the distances between neighbouringweb wires in the row being so selected that the mutually facing ends ofthe web wires come as close as possible to one another, so that two webwires may optionally be welded conjointly in one operation to thecorresponding grid wire.

Within the scope of the invention the web wires 7, as shown in FIG. 8,may also be arranged at right angles to the wire grid mats 1, 2. Sincein this case the position of the insulating body 8 in the grid body isonly inadequately fixed by the web wires 7, for the purpose of fasteningthe insulating body 8 a plurality of spacers 9 are provided, each ofwhich is supported on the corresponding grid mat wires of the wire gridmats 1, 2. The spacers 9 are also used in building elements havingobliquely extending web wires 7 if, because of the nature of thematerial of the insulating body, the fastening of the latter in the gridbody is not ensured by the web wires. This applies for example toinsulating bodies consisting of tied reed or bamboo canes.

As FIG. 9 shows, the insulating body 8 may also be arrangedasymmetrically to the two wire grid mats 1, 2. In this case thediameters of the grid wires 4, 4′, 6, 6′ of the wire grid mat 2 lying atthe greater distance from the insulating body 8 are advantageouslylarger than the diameters of the grid wires 3, 3′, 5, 5′ of the wiregrid mat 1 lying closer to the insulating body 8.

In order to stiffen the grid body at its edges, according to FIG. 10additional edge web wires 10 may be provided, which preferably extend atright angles to the wire grid mats 1, 2 and are welded to thecorresponding edge grid wires 3′, 4′, 5′, 6′ of the wire grid mats 1, 2.The diameter of the edge web wires 10 is preferably equal to thediameter of the web wires 7, 7′.

In FIG. 11 a building element according to the invention is shown, inwhich at the side surfaces 11 extending parallel to the cross wires 5, 6the insulating body 8 does not end flush with the two wire grid mats1,2, but the latter project laterally beyond it. By means of thisembodiment, when two identical building elements are joined together,the effect is achieved that the insulating bodies of adjoining buildingelements can be arranged without a gap, while the wire grid mats of thetwo building elements overlap in each case and thus form a bearingoverlap joint.

The insulating body 8 may also end flush with the inner wire grid mat 2at its two side surfaces 11, and only the wire grid mat 1 which will beon the outside in practical use may project beyond it.

One or both of the wire grid mats may also project laterally beyond theinsulating body 8 on all the side surfaces. In these exemplaryembodiments any edge web wires 10 provided may be so arranged that theyextend outside the insulating body or laterally adjoin the latter.

The longitudinal and cross wires of the wire grid mats 1, 2 and also theweb wires may have any desired cross-section. The cross-sections may beoval, rectangular, polygonal or, as illustrated in FIG. 12, square. Thereference numerals of the corresponding wires are 3″ and 4″ respectivelyfor the square longitudinal wires, 5″ and 6″ respectively for the squarecross wires, and 7″ for the square web wires.

FIG. 13 shows a building element which has a two-part insulating body8′. In this case the parts of the insulating body may if necessary bebonded together at their contact surfaces. The two parts of theinsulating body 8′ enclose cavities 12 in order to save material, butthese may also be filled with other materials, for example heapable,pourable and flowable insulating materials, such as wood chips, foamplastic chips, sand, plastic waste, rice waste, or straw waste. Theinsulating body 8′ may also consist of a plurality of parts which can bejoined together and for example have a multilayer construction. It is inaddition possible to provide a one-piece insulating body 8 with cavities12.

As schematically illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, there is applied to theouter wire grid mat 1 intended to form the outer side of the buildingelement an outer shell 13, for example of concrete, which adjoins theinsulating body 8, surrounds the outer wire grid mat 1 and together withthe latter forms the bearing component of the building element accordingto the invention. The thickness of the outer shell 13 is selected inaccordance with the static, acoustic and thermal requirements applicableto the building element, and amounts for example to from 20 to 200 mm.If the building element is used as a ceiling element, the minimumthickness of the outer shell 13 must for static reasons amount to 50 mm.

To the inner wire grid mat 2 intended to form the inner side of thebuilding element an inner shell 14 is applied, which adjoins theinsulating body 8, surrounds the inner wire grid mat 2 and for exampleconsists of concrete or mortar. The thickness of the inner shell 14 isselected in accordance with the static, acoustic and thermalrequirements applicable to the building element and amounts for exampleto from 20 to 200 mm. The two shells 13, 14 are preferably applied atthe site where the building element is used, for example sprayed on bythe wet or dry method.

Since the portions of the web wires 7, 7′ which lie in the inner regionof the building element, and also the edge web wires 10 when these areprovided, are not covered with concrete and are therefore exposed tocorrosion, the wires 7, 7′ and 10 must be provided with an anticorrosivelayer. This is preferably achieved by means of galvanising and/orcoating of the wires 7, 7′ and 10. For reasons of cost it has provedadvantageous for galvanised wire already to be used, at least for theweb wires 7, 7′, in the production of the grid body. The wires 7, 7′ and10 may also be made of stainless steel grades or other non-corrodingmaterials, for example aluminium alloys, which must be capable of beingjoined, preferably by welding, to the grid wires of the wire grid mats1, 2. Within the scope of the invention, not only the web wires 7, 7′and 10 but also the grid mat wires of the wire grid mats 1, 2 may beprovided with an anticorrosion layer or be made of stainless steelgrades or of other non-corroding materials.

For static reasons and/or in order to improve sound deadening it may benecessary to provide the building element, at least on one side, with avery thick concrete shell having reinforcement in two layers. In FIG.16a a part of a building element is shown which has a very thick outershell 13′ of concrete, this outer shell 13′ being reinforced with anadditional, outer reinforcement mat 15 the distance between which andthe outer wire grid mat 1 is freely selectable in accordance with thestatic requirements applicable to the building element. The additionalouter reinforcement mat 15 prevents cracking in the outer shell 13′caused by temperature and shrinkage stresses.

For static reasons and/or in order to improve sound deadening, thebuilding element may also be provided with a very thick inner shell 14′,which is reinforced either by an inner wire grid mat 2 or, as shown inFIG. 16b, with an inner wire grid mat 2 and an additional, innerreinforcement mat 15′. The distance between the additional innerreinforcement mat 15′ and the inner wire grid mat 2 is freely selectablein accordance with the static requirements applicable to the buildingelement. The diameters of the grid wires of the additional innerreinforcement mat 15′ are preferably larger than the diameters of thegrid wires of the two wire grid mats 1, 2 and lie, for example, in therange from 6 to 6 mm. If the thick inner shell 14′ is reinforced onlywith the inner wire grid mat 2, the diameters of the grid wires 4, 4′,6, 6′ of the inner wire grid mat 2 and of the web wires 7, 7′ arepreferably larger than the diameters of the grid wires 3, 3′, 5, 5′ ofthe outer wire grid mat 1 and lie, for example, in the range from 5 to 6mm.

The inner wire grid mat 2 and the additional inner reinforcement mat 15′may be joined by a plurality of spacer wires 24, which preferably extendat right angles to the inner wire grid mat 2 and the additional innerreinforcement mat 15′ and the mutual lateral spacing of which is freelyselectable. The diameter of the spacer wires 24 is preferably equal tothe diameters of the grid wires of the wire grid mats 1, 2.

Within the scope of the invention the additional outer reinforcement mat15 and the outer wire grid mat 1 may also be joined by spacer wires,which preferably extend at right angles to the outer wire grid mat 1 andto the additional outer reinforcement mat 15. These spacer wires arearranged at selectable lateral distances from one another and havediameters which are preferably equal to the diameters of the grid wiresof the two wire grid mats 1, 2.

The thick concrete shells 13′ and 14′ provided reinforcement in twolayers can also be poured with on-site with concrete at the place wherethe building element is used, in which case the outer boundary of theconcrete shells 13′, 14′ is formed by shuttering or by forms (notshown).

As FIG. 17 shows, there may be arranged on the inner side of thebuilding element, instead of the inner concrete shell, a lining board 16which lies on the inner wire grid mat 2 and is fastened to a mountingaid device 17. The lining board 16 forms the non-bearing inner wall ofthe building element and, as it has no static duties to perform, can bemade of light building material, such as a plywood board, gypsumplasterboard and the like, and have a decorative configuration complyingwith the desired finish of the interior space. The mounting aid device17 is arranged between the insulating body 8 and the inner wire grid mat2 and consists for example of a plurality of strips, which extend in thevertical direction between the web wires when the building element isused as a wall building element. The mounting aid device 17 may, ifnecessary, be fastened to the wires 4 and 6 of the inner wire grid mat2, for example by means of staples (not shown), or to the insulatingbody 8, for example by means of an adhesive coating. The mounting aiddevice 17 must consist of suitable material, for example wood, whichensures secure anchoring of the lining board 16 to the inner wire gridmat 2 lying therebetween. By means of the configuration according to theinvention the lining board 16 is not fastened to the insulating body 8,which obviously because of the nature of its material does not permitsecure attachment, but is firmly anchored to or clamped fast against theinner wire grid mat 2.

In order to improve the adhesion to the two cover surfaces 18 of theinsulating body 8, 8′ which face the wire grid mats 1, 2 when the outershell 13 and the inner shell 14 of concrete are sprayed on, and toprevent the material from flowing down undesirably during working, thecover surfaces 18 of the insulating body 8, 8′ may be roughened. Asshown in FIG. 18, the cover surfaces may be provided with depressions19, which are formed in the cover surfaces 18 of the insulating body,for example with the aid of toothed wheels or rollers carrying spikes orknobs on their periphery, during the production of the building element.

Within the scope of the invention it is possible, in accordance withFIG. 19, to provide the insulating body 8, 8′ on its cover surfaces 18with cross grooves 20, which extend in the horizontal direction when thebuilding element is used as a wall element. The depressions 19 and thecross grooves 20 may also, within the scope of the invention, already beproduced during the production of the insulating body.

With a view to improving the adhesion of the outer concrete shell 13 tothe insulating body 8, 8′, as illustrated in FIG. 20 use may be made ofa plaster base grid 21, which lies on the cover surface 18 of theinsulating body 8, 8′ and is secured in place by the web wires 7 or theinsulating body 8, 8′. The plaster base grid 21 consists for example ofa fine-mesh welded or woven wire grid with a mesh width of for example10 to 25 mm and wire diameters in the range from 0.8 to 1 mm. Theplaster base grid 21 may within the scope of the invention also consistof expanded metal. Between the plaster base grid 21 and the coversurface 18 of the insulating body 8, 8′ an additional separating layer22 may be arranged, which consists for example of impregnated buildingpaper or cardboard and which at the same time serves as a vapour barrierand is preferably joined to the plaster base grid 21.

In FIG. 21 another exemplary embodiment of a building element accordingto the invention is shown, wherein two separating layers 22 are arrangedin the building element with selectable spacing from the respectiveneighbouring wire grid mat 1 or 2, and are spaced at a selectabledistance from one another such that a gap 23 is formed between theseparating layers 22. The separating layers 22 may for example consistof cardboard, paperboard, plastics sheets, thin gypsum plasterboard orconcrete slabs with or without reinforcement. The separating layers 22are fastened in position relative to the wire grid mats 1, 2 either bythe web wires 7 or with the aid of spacers. The gap 23 between theseparating layers 22 is filled, either during the production of thebuilding element or only at the site where the building element is used,with suitable insulating material, whereby a central insulating layer 8″is formed in the building element. Since the separating layers 22accurately define the boundary surfaces of the central insulating layer8″, for the construction of the insulating layer it is possible to usematerials which do not need to be dimensionally stable orself-supporting. The materials should, however, be heapable, pourable orflowable and may for example consist of plastics materials which can befoamed in situ, plastics waste, rubber waste, wood waste, foam plasticschips, sand, slag, expanded concrete, rice or straw waste, or stonechips. In addition, a plaster base grid 21 may be arranged on each ofthose surfaces of the separating layers 22 which face the wire grid mats1 and 2 respectively.

It is understood that the exemplary embodiments described can bevariously modified within the scope of the general principle of theinvention; in particular it is possible for the outer shell 13 and/orthe inner shell 14 or the lining board 16 to be attached to the buildingelement already at the factory. The insulating body 8, 8′ and thecentral insulating layer 8″ as well as the separating layers 22 may bemade of flame-retardant or non-flammable materials or may be impregnatedor provided with substances which make the insulating body 8, 8′, thecentral insulating layer 8″ and the separating layers 22 flame-retardantor non-flammable. The insulating body 8, 8′ and the separating layers 21may in addition be provided with a flame-retardant or non-flammable coatof paint.

Within the scope of the invention it is furthermore possible for theinsulating body 8, 8′ or the central insulating layer 8″ to projectlaterally beyond at least one wire grid mat 1, 2 at at least one sideface 11 of the insulating body 8, 8′ or of the central insulating layer8″.

What is claimed is:
 1. A building component comprising: two parallelwelded wire grid mats (1, 2) formed of grid wires (3, 3′, 3″, 4, 4′, 4″,5, 5′, 5″, 6, 6′, 6″) with square or rectangular meshes; individualstraight web wires (7, 7′) holding said wire grid mats apart atpredetermined distances, said web wires extending obliquely, withrespect to the wire grid mats, inclined alternately in oppositedirections in a trelliswork manner in each row of web wires wherein saidweb wires have diameters in the range of from 3 to 7 mm, and wherein thediameters of said web wires are larder than the diameters of said gridwires; said individual web wires being joined at each end to said wiregrid mats and being arranged in rows interspersed among the grid wiresof the wire grid mats; wherein said web wires form shear reinforcementelements and have an anti-corrosion layer; a one-piece insulatingprefabricated block or panel forming a dimensionally stable insulatingbody (8) positioned between said wire grid mats and spanning more thantwo of said rows of web wires, and said one-piece insulating blockspanning over substantially the entire building component; saidone-piece insulating block or panel being located at predetermineddistances from the wire grid mats and held between, and spaced from, thewire grid mats solely by the web wires, which web wires pass throughsaid insulating body; wherein the insulating body (8) comprisesnon-flammable, or at least highly flame-retardant material; a plasterbase grid (21) secured to at least one cover surface (18) of theinsulating body; a separating layer (22) located between the plasterbase grid and said cover surface of the insulating body; and whereinboth of said wire grid mats have a side mesh length in the range of from50 to 100 mm and are formed as building element reinforcement mats forshells applied to said mats, which shells include, on at least one sideof the building element, load bearing material.
 2. The buildingcomponent of claim 1, wherein said separating layer (22) is connected tothe plaster carrying grid (21).
 3. The building component of claim 2,wherein said separating layer (22) comprises paperboard, cardboard,plastic panel material, gypsum plasterboard, or unreinforced thinconcrete panel material.
 4. The building component of claim 1, whereinthe insulating body (8, 8′) is impregnated with, or contains, additiveswhich renders said insulating body non-flammable, or at least highlyflame-retardant.
 5. The building component of claim 1, wherein: saidinsulating body (8, 8′) has a thickness of between 20 and 200 mm; and atleast one outside cover surface (18) of the insulating body (8, 8′) isformed with a plurality of transverse grooves (20) positioned to extendhorizontally when the building component is erected as part of abuilding.
 6. The building component of claim 1, wherein the spacing ofsaid insulating body (8, 8′) from said wire grid mats (1, 2)is between10 and 30 mm.
 7. The building component of claim 1, wherein at least onewire grid mat (1, 2) projects laterally beyond said insulating body (8,8′) on at least one side surface (11) of said insulating body.
 8. Thebuilding component of claim 1, wherein the insulating body (8, 8′)projects, on at least one side surface (11) thereof over at least onewire grid mat (1, 2).
 9. The building component of claim 1, furtherincluding: a two-layer outer shell (13′) of concrete applied to one wiregrid mat (1), said outer shell (13′) of concrete surrounding said onewire grid mat and, together with said one wire grid mat, forming a loadbearing part of a building of which said building component forms apart; and an additional reinforcing mat (15) included in said concreteouter shell (13′), said concrete outer shell (13′) being intended toform an external part of said building.
 10. The building component ofclaim 1, further comprising: an inner shell (14, 14′) coupled to theinsulating body (8, 8′) and surrounding an inner one of said grid mats(2) and forming, together with said inner grid mat (2), a load bearingpart of a building in which said component is erected as a part thereof;and an inner reinforcing mat (15′) embedded in said inner shell (14,14′).
 11. The building component of claim 9, further comprising: leastone additional reinforcing mat (15, 15′); and a plurality of spacerwires (24) located, apart, at selectable mutual spacing, said spacerwires being connected with the one wire grid mat (1) and the additionalreinforcing mat or mats(15, 15′) and, optionally, extendingperpendicularly to the one wire grid mat (1) and said additionalreinforcing mat or mats (15, 15′).
 12. The building component of claim11, wherein both an outer reinforcing mat (15) and an inner reinforcingmat (15′) are provided, and said mats are connected to the respectivewire grid mat (1, 2) by said spacer wires (24).
 13. The buildingcomponent of claim 11, wherein the diameters of said spacer wires (24)are equal to the diameters of the grid mat wires (3, 3′, 4, 4′, 5, 5′,6, 6′).
 14. The building component according to claim 1, wherein theinsulating body (8, 8′) comprises one of: foam plastics, optionallypolystyrene or polyurethane foam; foam materials based on rubber orcaoutchouc; lightweight concrete, optionally autoclave or aeratedconcrete; porous plastics; porous substances based on rubber orcaoutchouc; pressed slag; pressed sludge; gypsum plasterboard; andcement-bound compressed boards including at-least one of wood chips,jute, hemp or sisal fibers, rice husks, straw waste, sugarcane waste,mineral or rock wool, corrugated cardboard, compressed waste paper,bound stone chips, melted reusable plastics waste, or tied reed andbamboo canes.
 15. The building component of claim 1, wherein said gridwires have a diameter in the range of from 2 to 6 mm.
 16. The buildingcomponent of claim 1, wherein said grid wires include grid matlongitudinal wires and grid mat cross wires; wherein the spacing of saidweb wires from one another in the direction of the grid mat longitudinalwires and the grid mat cross wires is a multiple of the spacing of thegrid mat meshes; and wherein from 50 to 200 web wires per square meterare provided.